For a moment, he didn't know how to react. The embrace was unexpected, sudden, and completely out of nowhere.
His body tensed instinctively, his muscles locking up as if preparing for an attack rather than an embrace.
It was awkward.
As Darion, the bastard son of Emperor Valdris, no female had hugged him before. Not like this. Not with warmth, not with intention, not without some hidden motive behind it.
His mind raced through the possibilities. Was she scared? Was she relieved? Was this just a reaction to the intensity of the battle, the adrenaline finally wearing off and leaving something softer in its place?
He didn't know. He couldn't read her, he couldn't predict her or understand what had just happened.
But then, slowly, he returned the embrace. His arms came up hesitantly, wrapping around her, his hands resting lightly on her back.
He felt the tension in his shoulders ease, felt something unclench in his chest that he hadn't realized was tight.
